How Do Shoppers and Retail/Grocers Really Feel About Bag Bans and Reusable Bags?

How Do Shoppers and Retail/Grocers Really Feel About Bag Bans and Reusable Bags?

As people are getting used to using reusable shopping bags for trips to the grocery store, single-use plastic bag bans are becoming more common in California and worldwide. There is typically some resistance to such measures, however, that does not appear to be the case in Santa Barbara County – in a recent poll of 40 North County residents in unincorporated areas, all of the people polled confirmed they were aware of similar bans and they had no problems with such bans.

Why Should the United States Ban Single Use Plastic Bags?

Why Should the United States Ban Single Use Plastic Bags?

Cities and counties throughout the United States are banning disposable plastic bags or taking measures to reduce the use of these single-use bags. The objective is typically the same: reduce the negative impacts caused by single-use plastic bags by switching to reusable shopping bags. This switch with help with a slew of environmental problems from the destruction of animal habitats to the deterioration of the food chain and marring the natural beauty of the outdoors and resolution to these problems can require a hefty expense.

Are Custom Reusable Bags a Good Way to Market Your Brand?

Are Custom Reusable Bags a Good Way to Market Your Brand?

When marketing your brand you want to select an item that represents your company, fits in with your mission statement, and will give you the best ROI (Return on Investment) right? Well a functional promotional tool like a reusable bag will last for 3-5 years and fill a need for your customers while also getting your brand’s info out there. You know who your demographic is and what appeals to them, so creating a custom reusable bag just for them is a great way to reach your customers and prospects for many years providing great ROI.

England Leaves United States in the Dust with Bag Fee

England Leaves United States in the Dust with Bag Fee

Last week we told you about how the EU is in favor of reusable shopping bags and considering a single-use bag ban. Now comes word that England passed a law that will levy a fee (roughly 8 cents USD) on all disposable plastic bags given out at stores. This fee is slated to go into action in the fall of 2015 and all of the money raised by the fee will go towards charities working on environmental damage cleanup.

How Businesses and Consumers Can Both Go Green This Halloween

How Businesses and Consumers Can Both Go Green This Halloween

This Halloween businesses can effectively market their brand while helping consumers celebrate the spookiest day of the year in green fashion. It’s actually pretty easy to be green and spooky and go reusable now! Why not create a customized reusable bag that kids can use this October. Whether trick or treating in their neighborhood (here’s how to go organic with your treats this year), at school or participating in a community event, kids are bound to have a need for a special reusable bag this Fall. And when a business creates a reusable bag customized with their branding info, they will help out the kids, our planet, our wildlife and help spread the word about their brand.

How Fracking Means Good Business for Plastic Bag Manufacturers

How Fracking Means Good Business for Plastic Bag Manufacturers

Unfortunately, plastic production is a big business. With several states passing laws allowing hydrofracking the door is wide open for more raw materials to create more environmentally harmful like disposable plastic shopping bags. When natural gas is pulled from underground shale deposits, it can be processed into polyethylene which can then be used to create a variety of plastics – including single-use plastic bags. But reusable shopping bags are still the better investment.

Guess How Much It Costs Your City to Clean Up Plastic?

Guess How Much It Costs Your City to Clean Up Plastic?

Litter needs to be cleaned up because it is just ugly to look at and it is a danger to animals both on land and in the water. Animals can eat the bags and die or they can become tangled in the bags and are left defenseless. Litter mars the natural beauty of our parks, beaches and homes and there is just no place for it. But just how much money does it cost anyway?

Thank You for All You Do! Now Tell Us How We Can Help You

Thank You for All You Do! Now Tell Us How We Can Help You

This Labor Day we got to thinking about how much our customers and online friends have helped us in the work we do each and every single day, and we wanted to say thanks. If it wasn’t for all of you out there being just as engaged and passionate as we all are here at FDP about creating a healthier future for us all, we wouldn’t be able to make such a difference.

It is because you help us spread our message that businesses, consumers and municipalities all over the United States and beyond are getting the message that it is time to #GoReusableNow and ditch single use plastic bags.

3 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Work

3 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint at Work

We know our friends in our online community are looking for ways to go green and reduce their carbon footprint at work so this week for Eco-Fact Friday, we are offering up three ideas to help you make a smaller footprint at work.

The Easy Thing We Can All Do to Protect Wildlife

The Easy Thing We Can All Do to Protect Wildlife

There are a lot of merits to using reusable shopping bags, from the streamlining of waste management to the use of more eco materials, but there are a lot of perks for members of the animal kingdom when humans decided to make the environmentally responsible decision to carry their purchases in reusable shopping bags.

3 Ways to Go Green at the Beach This Summer

3 Ways to Go Green at the Beach This Summer

With summer in full swing, a day at the beach can be a great way to spend an afternoon while enjoying the outdoors. The warm sun and the cool water can make for a relaxing time, and while you want to make the most of your time at the beach, you also want to make sure you do right by the environment.

Will Chicago Become Next City to Go Reusable and Implement a Plastic Bag Ban?

Will Chicago Become Next City to Go Reusable and Implement a Plastic Bag Ban?

Chicago has had an ongoing discussion about disposable plastic bags for quite a while now. It all started back in October 2011 when a plastic bag ban was suggested. The State of Illinois made headlines last summer when their Governor attempted to pass radical pro-plastic bag legislation in response to the suggested ban. After a lot of hard work, the proposal the Governor had supported did not pass, and while nothing is final, it looks like Chicago is closer than ever to switching to reusable shopping bags and banning disposable plastic bags throughout the city.

Reusable Bags Better Option for Environment Than Recycling

Reusable Bags Better Option for Environment Than Recycling

In a wonderful letter to the editor, Randy Moorman, Community Campaigns Manager at Eco-Cycle recently broke down why reusable grocery shopping bags are in fact a better decision than recycling single-use plastic bags and we loved it. Moorman clearly poses counterarguments to a guest commentary piece that ran in a Boulder newspaper and we wanted to share his thoughts on recycling and reusable bags.

Another Wasted Opportunity for the Environment and Reusable Bags

Another Wasted Opportunity for the Environment and Reusable Bags

The Queensland government decided against issuing a plastic bag ban despite the support for a ban and encouraging residents to switch to reusable shopping bags. Also, Environment Minister Andrew Powell explained that the government would not introduce any measures that would increase the cost of living for people in Queensland, such as a bag fee.

Girl Scouts Encourage Use of Reusable Shopping Bags

Girl Scouts Encourage Use of Reusable Shopping Bags

When Hermosa Beach Girl Scout Troop 3925 was looking for a community project to undertake, they found that they all agreed that disposable plastic bags are causing severe damage to the environment and sustainable options, like reusable shopping bags, are a much better choice.

Transform an Old T-Shirt Into a Reusable Bag

Transform an Old T-Shirt Into a Reusable Bag

According to an EPA estimate only 15 percent of textile waste is reused or recycled, making used textiles a largely untapped resource. This material already exists, so why not use it in manufacturing? When clothing, sheets and towels, curtains and other materials wear out and are not suitable for donation don’t toss them in the trash.

5 Ways to Show Your Patriotism with Reusable Bags!

5 Ways to Show Your Patriotism with Reusable Bags!

A lot of people think using reusable bags makes you a tree hugger or an environmentalist. This may or may not be true, but using reusable bags is a great way to show your patriotism this Fourth of July and beyond. We put our heads together and came up with 5 ways you can show your patriotism this year and always by ditching single use, disposable plastic bags in favor of reusable shopping bags. You with us?